Step 1: Pick your park

As you can see, for this one day plan for school age kids, we will be at Magic Kingdom.

Step 2: Make your Advance Dining Reservations ADRs

Make an early morning 8:00 am ADR at Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest Restaurant.

Cinderella’s Royal Table is a character dining meal in Cinderella’s iconic castle in the middle of Magic Kingdom. You will meet Cinderella and a rotating cast of princesses. We met Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), and Snow White.

Be Our Guest is not a character meal, and thus will be faster. This will get you out sooner to get on rides early before lines form.

Magic Kingdom doesn’t hit peak crowds until 10-11 am. By getting into the park early, you can get onto several rides with little to no wait, before you even have to use a FastPass+.

Itinerary without coasters

Step 4: Execute the schedule!

Itinerary for thrill seekers

7:00 am - Head to Magic Kingdom
7:20 am - Go through the Early Advanced Dining Reservation Line (usually to the far left)
7:30 am - Get photos taken on empty Main Street on the way to breakfast
7:45 am - Early Morning Advanced Dining Reservation at Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella's Royal Table. If you eat relatively quickly, you should be able to get to your first ride with very little wait.
8:50 am - Finish breakfast and Walk to the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train Ride (Fantasyland) 38 Inch Height Requirement
9:00 am - Ride 7 Dwarfs Mine Train Ride as it opens (this would usually require a FastPass, but you should be able to get on quickly if you head there directly from breakfast.
9:20 am - Peter Pan's Flight (Fantasyland)
9:40 am - Barnstormer with the Great Goofini (Fantasyland)
9:50 am - Head over to Tomorrowland.
10:00 am - Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
10:30 am - Tomorrowland Speedway (54 inch height requirement for drivers, 32 inches for riders)
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - First FastPass - Space Mountain. Arrive towards the end of your reservation period12:00 PM - Lunch ADR at Crystal Palace (or wherever you like)1:00 - 2:00 pm - Second FastPass - Big Thunder Mountain (40 inch height requirement)2:00 - 3:00 pm - Third FastPass - Splash Mountain (40 inch height requirement)Get More FastPasses - As soon as you activate your 3rd FastPass, you may schedule a 4th, but options are usually limited. If you are coming back for the after dinner option, you will probably be able to find something you want. You make these in your app or at a FastPass kiosk. There is a kiosk between Liberty Square and Frontierland, between the Frontier Trading Post and the Diamond Horseshoe.
If staying on property, consider heading back for a rest or swim.
More Recommended Rides for the afternoon:
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
5:00 pm - Head to the monorail to your dinner ADR.
5:30 pm - Dinner ADR at Chef Mickey's or other restaurant of your choice.
See below for evening option.

Itinerary without rollercoasters

7:00 am - Head to Magic Kingdom 7:20 am - Go through the Early Advanced Dining Reservation Line (usually to the far left)
7:30 am - Get photos taken on empty Main Street on the way to breakfast
7:45 am - Early Morning Advanced Dining Reservation at Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella's Royal Table. If you eat relatively quickly, you should be able to get to your first ride with very little wait.
8:50 am - Ride Haunted Mansion
9:20 am - Ride Peter Pan's Flight
9:40 am - Ride Barnstormer with the Great Goofing (this is a rollercoaster, but it's very mild for young kids)
10:00 am - Ride Astro Orbiter
10:30 am - Ride Stitch's Great Escape
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - First FastPass - Ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Read tips on how to win here!)12:00 pm - Lunch ADR at Crystal Palace1:00 - 2:00 pm - Second FastPass - Tomorrowland Speedway (54 inch height requirement for drivers, 32 inch height requirement for riders) 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Third FastPass - Pirates of the Caribbean
Get More FastPasses - As soon as you activate your 3rd FastPass, you may schedule a 4th, but options are usually limited. If you are coming back after dinner, you will probably be able to find something you want in the evening. You can make these in your app or at a FastPass kiosk. There is a FastPass kiosk next to Jungle Cruise in Adventureland.
If staying on property, consider heading back for a rest or swim.
More Recommended Rides for the afternoon:
Jungle Cruise
Fairytale Hall (meet princesses)
Hall of Presidents
Swiss Family Treehouse
4:30 pm - Stroll through the shops on main street
5:00 pm - Head to the monorail to your dinner ADR.
5:30 pm - Dinner ADR at Chef Mickey's or other restaurant of your choice.

Other Notes about Magic Kingdom

Park hours often change from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. Check the day before to ensure you know what time the park is opening.

If you don’t have an early ADR, being at Magic Kingdom for Rope Drop is important in order to get a head start on the crowds.

Magic Kingdom generally lets guests through the turnstiles, but not all the way into the park, 15 minutes before park opening (usually 8:45 am). If early crowds are large enough, Disney may let people in early or open the park early.

We really hope this helps you make the most out of your day in Magic Kingdom with your school age kids. Please let us know in the comments what you think of the itinerary. And if you put it in to action, definitely let us know!